Tape dispenser with snap-out cutter slide



Jan. 1, 1963 c. CAST-ELLI TAPE DISPENSER WITH SNAP OUT CUTTER SLIDE Filed April 29, 1958 INVENTOR 66 121455 (515754 yd/X ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,071,034 TAPE DISPENSER WITH SNAP-OUT CUTTER SLIDE Charles Castelli, New Brunswick, N..I., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 731,658 17 Claims. (Cl. 83-578) The present invention is drawn to a tape dispenser and more particularly to a tape dispensing and cutting device for use with surgical adhesive tapes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding rolls of adhesive tape and for dispensing and cutting such tape that may readily be mounted, as a complete unit in a container, on a wall, on movable hospital carts or other support. A further object is to provide an efiicient and easily assembled slidable cutter that can be readily removed for replacement or for the insertion of new cutting blades when desired.

These and other objects and advantages are obtained by the device hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser and cutter;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cutting blade holder;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view with part of the cutting blade holder and part of the guiding rods removed so as to better illustrate the relation of parts;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, similar to a portion of FIG. 4, showing the flexing of the upper rods during insertion of the cutter carriage.

In the embodiment illustrated, the bracket which supports a removable rod on which are carried the rolls of tape is also provided with four closely assembled parallel rods on which the cutting blade holder is adapted to ride. These rods are placed forward with respect to the roll tape support so that the unrolled tape may be secured, adhesive side down, to the uppermost of these rods and the cutter assembly then slid across the same for severing. The rods have sufficient spring so that the same may be slightly sprung apart for receiving the base of the cutting knife carrier. The bracket, together with the assembled parts make a complete tape disepensing and cutting device. The device may be readily mounted on the wall, on a hospital cart or in a container by securing the back of the bracket, by screws, bolts or otherwise, to a vertical surface which acts as a support for the tape dispenser and cutter.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the bracket which is U-shaped has a straight back 11 which is preferably provided with holes, not shown, for securing the bracket to a vertical support and with perpendicularly extending sides. The sides are bent so as to provide sections 12 and further spaced sections 13. The sections 12 are adapted to hold the tape supporting rod 14 and are provided with notches 15 in which the rod is inserted. It will be noted that the notches 15 are curved back toward the front of the bracket as at 16 to help maintain the supporting rod 14 in place when tape is pulled out.

Four parallel, closely spaced rods 17 extend between the end sections 13 of the bracket and are secured thereto. The upper two rods act as a cutting surface, the

tape being secured to these rods by its adhesive coating 1 while being cut. An H-shape cutter carriage 18 is adapted to be held by and ride on the four rods.

The cutter carriage 18 has a blade-carrying section 19 on which the cutter blades 22 are placed and a cover 21 for securing the blades in position. The cutter blades 22, which may be any conventional razor blades of the perforated type, are placed over projections 23 which "ice position the blades in a slanting position with respect to any tape laid across the cutting surface formed by the two upper rods 17. The blades are held in this position by cover 21 which is secured to the blade-carrying section 19 by screws 24. Indentations 25 are provided on the inner surface at both ends of the blade-carrying section 19 to make removal of the blades easier. When it is desired to remove a blade, the blade can readily be removed by insertion of the fingernail or other object into the indentation 25, below the blade. The blade is then lifted off of the projections 23.

The cutter carriage is provided with a neck 26 which is adapted to fit between the upper two of rods 17 and slide therebetween. The neck 26 connects the bladecarrying section 19 and an elongated slide section 27 which.

is somewhat thicker than the neck 26 and is adapted to fit in the space between the four rods 17. The longitudinally extending slide section 27 has its upper edge 28 and its lower edge 29 beveled to fit respectively between the upper and lower pair of rods 17. These beveled edges 28 and 29 preferably have arcuate surfaces to better fit the rounded contour of the rods with which they come in contact.

In preparing the cutter for use, razor blades 22 are inserted over projections 23 and the cover member 21 then placed on top of the blade-holding section 19 so that the projections 23 enter indentations 30 in the cover. The blade-holding section 19 and cover 21 are then firmly secured together by means of the screws 24. The assembled cutter is then placed in position on the carrying rods 17 by inserting slide section 27 between the upper two parallel rods 17 near the center thereof, the rods 17 having sufiicient spring to permit this insertion. This is best illustrated by reference to FIG. 5 where it will be noted that as the slide section 27 is pushed between the two upper parallel rods :17, these rods are both moved out from their normal position as indicated by the dotted rod outlines 17'. After the slide section has passed completely through, the upper rods 17 spring back into their normal unfiexed position, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. When in place, the slide section 27 is restrained within the space between the four rods 17 but free to slide easily from one end to the other.

The tape cutting and dispensing device may be placed in a cabinet, a suitably designed container or simply secured to the wall or a hospital cart. If the tape dispensing and cutting device is not to be placed in a cabinet or container, it is desirable to protect the tape rolls from dust and possible spilling of medication. A readily removable cover 31 is therefore provided. The cover, which isformed of a flat piece of material, has rearwardly extending spring tabs 32 which contain projecting pins 33 adapted to fit into holes 34 in the bracket. The rear part of the cover is bent at an angle to the main cover body, giving the cover a pitched roof-like appearance. This not only permits more room under the cover for the tape rolls but also helps to drain off any medication that may be spilled thereon. The cover is readily removed by springing the tabs 32 outwardly so as to remove the pins 33 from the holes 34.

Where the tape dispenser and cutter assembly are mounted in a box provided with its own cover, the cover member 31 would, of course, be superfluous and would be removed. However, if the tape rack and cutter assembly are installed in an open area, particularly where something may be spilled on the tape rolls, the cover member 31 is found to adequately protect the enclosed tape rolls 35.

In the device shown, the rods 17 are preferably formed of steel, although plastic rods or rods formed of other material may be used as long as the material has suf- "I O ficient rigidity to properly support the cutter and sufficient spring to permit insertion of the slide 27 into the space enclosed within the four rods 17. However, rather than depending on the yielding nature of the rods, the upper two rods may be spring-mounted at either end so that the same may be momentarily pushed aside to insert the slide section of the cutter carriage.

It will be noted that the cutting edge 36 of the blade 22 is at an angle to the parallel extending guide bars 17,

the lower corner of the cutting edge extending we'll down between the uppermost parallel rods. In using the device, the tape roll holder 14 is first removed and inserted through the rolls of tape and then replaced in the notches 15 as shown. A strip of tape 37 is then unwound from the roll to the desired length and placed in contact, adhesive face down, with the uppermost rods 17. The cutter carriage 18 is then slid across the tape, the knife edge on the side closest to the tape severing the same. The severed strip of tape is then removed, leaving the end 38 from which it was severed secured by its adhesive to the innermost of the two top rods 17. When it is again desired to use the tape, it is only necessary to lift the end 38 free of the rod and unwind a section of desired length and repeat the cutting operation.

A particular embodiment of the invention has been used to illustrate the same. The invention, however, is not limited to this specific embodiment, variations and modifications well within thespirit and scope of the invention being readily apparent on reading the specification.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cutting device for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprising two flexible rods permanently secured at their ends, said rods disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other, a slide surface below said two parallel rods, a cutter carriage having a blade-holding section, a slide section and a connecting neck therebetween said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said parallel rods and said slide section having a width slightly greater than the distance between said rods, said slide section adapted to be inserted between said two rods by flexing the same, said neck section extending between said rods when said slide section is in engagement wtih said slide surface and holding said blade-holding section out of sliding engagement with the upper surface of said rods, and means for securing a cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

2. A cutting device of claim 1 wherein said slide surface is formed by the upper surface of two parallel rods extending parallel to said first two parallel rods.

3. A cutting device for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprising two upper flexible rods and two lower rods disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other, said rods being permanently secured at their ends, a cutter carriage having a blade-holding section, a slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods, but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, and means for securing a cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

4. A cutting device for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprising two upper flexible rods and two lower rods disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other, said rods being permanently secured at their ends, a cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending blade-holding section, a longtiudinal-ly extending slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of 'said slide section being sufficiently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, said blade-holding section having raised projections spaced so as to receive a standard perforated razor blade, a removable cover with openings for receiving said projections and means for securing said cover to said blade-holding section.

5. A cutting device for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprising two upper flexible rods and two lower rods disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other, said rods being permanently secured at their ends, a cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending blade-holding section, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufficiently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement wtih the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, a cutting blade carried by said blade-holding section at an angle thereto, the cutting edge of said blade sloping from above said upper two parallel rods at a point near the end of said blade-holding section to between said upper two rods and means for securing said cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

6. A cutting device for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprising two upper flexible rods and two lower rods disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other, said rods being permanently secured at their ends, an H-shaped cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending bladeholding section, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck midway between said cutter and slide section, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufficiently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally betwen the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, a cutting blade carried by said blade-holding section at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said blade-holding section, the lower end of the cutting edge of said blade extending between the two upper parallel rods and adjacent to said connecting neck, the combined width of said neck and cutting blade being less than the spacing between said two upper parallel rods, and means for securing said cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

7. A cutting device for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprising two upper flexible rods and two lower rods disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other, said rods being permanently secured at their ends, an H-shaped cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending bladeholding section, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck midway between said blade-holding section and said slide section, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufliciently narrow to fit respec tively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being Wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, two sets of raised projections on said blade holding section each adapted to receive a standard perforated razor blade, each set of raised projections being 'on a line at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said blade-holding section to position any inserted blade so that its cutting edge will extending downwardly from the outer lower edge of the blade-holding section to said neck and from a point above the upper surface of said two upper parallel rods to a point below said surface, the cutting edges of a pair of blades forming a V,

a removable cover for said blade-holding section having openings therein for receiving said projections, and means for securing said cover to said blade-holding section to secure said blades therein.

8. In an adhesive tape cutting and dispensing device a bracket member having a back and two sides, four closely spaced parallel rods extending between the ends of said sides and permanently secured thereto, the two uppermost of said rods being flexible, a rod adapted to carry tape rolls extending between said sides spaced between the back of said bracket and said forwardly positioned parallel rods, a cutter carriage carried by said four spaced parallel rods having a blade-holding section, a slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said slide section being hold by said four parallel rods within the space therebetween and restrained thereby except for movement along said rods said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods.

9. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, four closely spaced parallel rods having an enclosed space therebetween said rods extending between said sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, the two uppermost of said rods being flexible, a tape-carrying rod, removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said four parallel rods, a cutter carriage carried by said four spaced parallel rods having a blade-holding section, a slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said slide section beingmaintained within the space enclosed within said four. parallel rods and restrained thereby except for longitudinal movement along said parallel rods, said connecting neck extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, and a cutter blade carried at an angle by said blade-holding section so that a portion of the lower edge of said cutter blade extends down between two of said parallel rods.

10. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween, said rods extending between said bracket sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, a cutter carriage having a blade-holding section, a slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufiiciently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained Within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods and means for securing a cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

11. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween, said rods extending between said bracket sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, a cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending bladeholdingsection, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufliciently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, said bladeholding section having raised projections spaced so as to receive a standard perforated razor blade, and a removable cover with openings for receiving said projections and means for securing said cover to said blade-holding section.

12. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween, said rods extending between said bracket sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, a cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending bladeholding section, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufiiciently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods, a cutting blade carried by said blade-holding section at an angle thereto, the cutting edge of said blade sloping from above said upper two parallel rods at a point near the end of said blade-holding section to between said upper two rods, and means for securing said cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

13. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween, said rods extending between said bracket sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, an H-shaped cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending blade-holding section, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck midway between said cutter and slide sections, the upper and lower edge of said slide, section being sufliciently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods a cutting blade carried by said blade-holding section at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said blade-holding section, the lower end of the cutting edge of said blade extending between the two upper parallel rods and adjacent to said connecting neck, the combined width of said neck and cutting blade being less than the spacing between said two upper parallel rods, and means for securing said cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

14. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween, said rods extending between said sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, an H-shaped cutter carriage having a longitudinally extending blade-holding section, a longitudinally extending slide section and a connecting neck midway between said blade-holding section and said slide section, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufficiently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper a pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said.

two upper flexible rods, two sets of raised projections on said blade-holding section each adapted to receive a standard perforated razor blade, each set of raised projections being on a line at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said blade-holding section to position any inserted blade so that its cutting edge willextend downwardly from the outer lower edge of the blade-holding section to said neck and from a point above the upper surface of said two upper parallel rods to a point below said surface the cut ting edges of a pair of blades forming a V, a removable cover for said blade-holding section having openings therein for receiving said projections, and means for securing said cover to said blade-holding section to secure said blades therein.

15. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween, said rods extending between said bracket sides near the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, curved notches in said bracket sides adapted to receive the ends of said tape-carrying rod, said notches extending first toward the back of said bracket and then curving toward the front of said bracket, a cutter carriage having a bladeholding section, a slide section and a connecting neck thcrebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance between said two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufliciently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallel rods and between said lower two parallel rods, the center of said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallelrods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement-with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods and means for securing a cutting blade to said blade-holding section.

16. A device for dispensing and cutting rolled adhesive tape comprising a bracket member having a back and two sides extending substantially at right angles thereto, two upper flexible rods and two lower rods, said rods being disposed adjacent to and parallel to each other and having an enclosed space therebetween and permanently secured thereto, said rods extending between said bracket sides near the ends thereof, a rod for carrying rolls of adhesive tape removably supported by said bracket sides between the back of said bracket and said parallel rods, a cutter carriage having a blade-holding section, a slide section and a connecting neck therebetween, said neck having a thickness slightly less than the distance betweensaid two upper parallel rods, the upper and lower edge of said slide section being sufliciently narrow to fit respectively between said upper two parallelrods and between said lower two parallel rods, thercenter =0f said slide section being wider than the space between said upper pair of rods but narrower than the space defined by all four of said parallel rods so that said slide section is restrained within the space between said rods but free to move longitudinally between the same, said neck section extending between said upper two flexible rods when said slide section is in engagement with said two lower rods and holding said blade-holding section out of engagement with the upper surface of said two upper flexible rods and means for securing a cutting blade to said blade-holding section, a cover member, spring tabs extending downwardly from said cover member, projections near the ends of said spring tabs for insertion into corresponding holes in said 5 bracket sides for removably connecting said cover memher to said tape dispenser and cutter, said projections acting as pivots on which said cover member turns when raised or lowered, said cover member when in lowered position extending over said tape rolls to protect the same.

17. The tape cutting and dispensing device of claim 16 in which the major portion of said cover member consists of a substantially flat surface, the spring tabs extending downwardly and rearwardly from said surface, the rear portion of said cover being bent downwardly at 1% a slight angle so that when said cover is closed it has a sloping front and rear surface.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,565 Gillanders Nov. 2-1, 1944 1,511,016 Barker Oct. 7, 1924 1,837,839 Shankland Dec. 22, 1931 2,247,719 Van Unen July 1, 1941 2,274,977 Currier Mar. 3, 1942 2,391,062 Madsen Dec. 18, 1945 2,575,803 Frank Nov. 20, 1951 2,753,938 Thiess July 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,016,823 France Apr. 28, 1950 

1. A CUTTING DEVICE FOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPES COMPRISING TWO FLEXIBLE RODS PERMANENTLY SECURED AT THEIR ENDS, SAID RODS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO AND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, A SLIDE SURFACE BELOW SAID TWO PARALLEL RODS, A CUTTER CARRIAGE HAVING A BLADE-HOLDING SECTION, A SLIDE SECTION AND A CONNECTING NECK THEREBETWEEN SAID NECK HAVING A THICKNESS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL RODS AND SAID SLIDE SECTION HAVING A WIDTH SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID RODS, SAID SLIDE SECTION ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED BETWEEN SAID TWO RODS BY FLEXING THE SAME, SAID NECK SECTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID RODS WHEN SAID SLIDE SECTION IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLIDE SURFACE AND HOLDING SAID BLADE-HOLDING SECTION OUT OF SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID RODS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING A CUTTING BLADE TO SAID BLADE-HOLDING SECTION. 